Times of India
16 February 2011
By Vishakha.Sharma

City hospital has introduced the Vital Jacket, which monitors your heart without tying you down to a machine
Getting an electrocardiogram (ECG) done will no longer be a the cumbersome process it was – involving electric pads connected with wires and waiting for hours in the hospital. With the introduction of a modern ECG recording cardio device known as the ‘Vital Jacket’, recording the activities of the heart will now be much more convenient and also more patient–friendly.

A wearable vital–sign monitoring system, the Vital Jacket has paved the way for many other technologically advanced devices, some of them bordering on futuristic. The jacket uses microelectronics embedded into a T–shirt that will continuously monitor the heart rate and ECG waves of the wearer. The Vital Jacket is a system that is capable of acquiring, storing, and analysing, both on and off–line, various physiological signs such as ECG and heart rate of an individual. The jacket is wearable for 120 hours (five days).

The Vital Jacket has been introduced in India for the first time by Inamdar Hospital, Pune. Although relatively new in India, the machine has been welcomed by doctors and patients alike.

The jacket has been designed and developed for a usable and pragmatic approach that is beneficial for different clinical scenarios in hospitals. It is useful for individuals who need continuous or frequent monitoring of their cardiac health and functioning and gives more than enough independence from stationary treatment of patients who need special care and medical applications.

Patients who have used the jacket have found it very convenient and the results have proven to be as accurate as the traditional machine. Not only does it provide comfort, it is also accurate enough to precisely measure the data without causing the patient any trouble.

Kalpana (name changed to protect identity), a patient, whose recent ECG was recorded by Vital Jacket at Inamdar Hospital said, "I was sceptical of the traditional machine as I like to move around freely, so the doctors gave me the jacket to wear and I was extremely pleased with its convenience. I could move around anywhere while wearing it with no stress at all. I didn’t need to compromise on movement at all."

Dr Parvez Inamdar, CEO of Inamdar Hospital said, "I foresee a great future for such devices as they make people’s lives easier. While I want to concentrate on providing quality service, I would also like to focus on machines that will do justice to the service. I want to keep pace with the modern world, where everybody demands comfort and luxury, and that is what I had in mind when I considered introducing this jacket. Ours is a service industry – hence our patients’ comfort is of the utmost importance to us."

Cardiologist Dr Hardas has welcomed the jacket, stating, "With this jacket, the patient can move around hassle – free. The Vital Jacket is currently available only at Inamdar Hospital in Pune and I am very hopeful that it will be welcomed all over the country."

How IT Works
THE JACKET uses microelectronics embedded into a T–shirt that will continuously monitor the heart rate and ECG waves of the wearer. The Vital Jacket is a system capable of acquiring, storing, and analysing, both on and off–line, various physiological signs such as ECG and heart rate of an individual. The jacket is wearable for 120 hours (five days)